Cloth-clamp for sewing-machines



N0. 608,045. Patented .Iuly 26, |898.,

J. T. HOGAN. l

CLOTH CLAMP FUR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application led Apr. 15, 1895.)

(No Model.)

. Elm!) l Fig. l.

mirino Brains i FFIQE@ JAMES T. HOGAN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY,ASSICNOR TO THE NATIONAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF TROY, NEW YORK-.CLOTH-CLAMP FORSEWIl\lC:1-|l/iACHINES.ov

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent 1\l'o.` 608,045, dated July26, 1898.

Application filed April 1 5, ,1 8 9 5.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES" T. HOGAN, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson-and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cloth Clamps for Sewing-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

My improvement relates to cloth-clamps suitable for attachment tosewing-machines, and is especially directed toward the production of aclamp for holding the cloth or fabric` in which a buttonhole is to beformed or in which it has already been formed.

1 I will describe a clamp embodying my irnprovement and then point outthe novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a clampembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is asectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4 is a similar view, butillustrates a modification.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all gures.p j

A designates a cloth-carrying plate provided with an opening d andadapted to receive the cooperating member of the clamp, consisting of afoot A. The cloth-carrying plate A is provided with an extension a',serving for the attachment of the clamp to the feed plate or otheroperative mechanism (not shown) of a buttonhole-stitching machine. i

The foot A is made sectional, comprising two independent pieces a2 a2,which are each provided with projections or teeth for engaging with afabric or cloth.

I have in the present instance provided separate levers B B for carryingthe pieces ce2 a2, comprising the foot A.

B is a plate extending from the cloth-carrying plate A and provided witha lug b, carrying a pivot-pin h' for the levers B B. The

i levers B B may be extended rearward from the pivot-pin h', as shown ath2 h2.

C is an upright rodor post extending upward from the plate B between thelevers B B and provided with a threaded end, with which engages a nutb3. A spring h4 is interposed between the nut h3 and a bridge-piece b5,the latter embracing the rod C and bear- `Serial1\l'0.5ll5,694. (Nomodel.)

ying at opposite sides upon the levers B B. `The nut h3 and the springb4 serve for the regulation of the pressure of the foot A' upon thefabric.

Preferably the independent pieces a2 a2, comprising the foot A', willnot be rigidly attached to the levers B B, but will be so securedthereto as will permito'f their moving upon their points of attachmentas they are pressed down upon the fabric. upon the lower surfaces of thepieces a2 CL2 are then in engagement with the fabric the latter iscarried with them in their movement.

As shown in Figs. l and 3, each piece a2 is provided with teeth at itslower outer edge, while at its ends it is provided withinwardlyextending lugs 0,3 a3, which serve for the attachment of thepiece to its, corresponding lever B. The upper surface of each piece a2is inclined downward from its point of attachment. In the presentinstance this attachment consists of a screw a4, ttin g loosely into anopening of the lever B, the joint therewith constituting a ball-bearingand entering a tapped hole in each lug d3, projecting inwardly from thepiece a2. It is evident that by this construction the lower portion ofeach piece a2 will be permitted to swing outward,

and this outward movement will take place when the piece d2 is forceddown upon some resisting object--as, for instance, an interposed fabric.Consequently when the fabric is engaged with the clamp preparatory toforming a buttonhole the portion of the fabric in which the butionholeis to be formed will be stretched or distended.

I have shown in Fig. 4 a method of supporting the pieces D, which willaccomplish a result opposite to that attained by the construction shownin Fig. 3. In other words, the fabric will be drawn or pressedtogether.4 This will bepadvantageous when a buttonhole already cut is tobe barred. In this construction the teeth are formed upon the inner oradjacent portion of the lower surface of the pieces CZ d, while thepieces themselves are secured to the supporting-levers B B` byconnections which are arranged at the outer portions of the pieces. Theupper surfaces of the pieces d d will be beveled in a direction oppositeto that shown in Fig. 3.

As the teeth IOO Suitable springs@ are provided for holding the piecesor members of the foot when not engaged with the fabric.

Having described my invention, what I consider as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is- 1 1. The combination with a cloth-carryingplate, a sectional support fulcrumed to said plate, a presser-footformedin sections, a suitable connection between said sections and thefulcrumed support whereby they can swing longitudinally to one side ofthe vertical plane of the connection, means for causing them to be heldtoward each other, and means in connection with the fulcrumed supportfor causing the presser-foot to bear upon the cloth and thereby mov-ethe sections of the presserfoot away from each other to spread thecloth, substantially as specified.

2. The combination'with a cloth-carrying plate, of a presser-foot madein sections,'le vers pivoted on said plate, a hinged connection betweensaid levers and sections so that the sections can swing downwardly ontheir pivots in a longitudinal plane on one side of the vertical planeof the hinged connection when pressed upon the cloth, a means forsimultaneously causing the levers and foot-sections to press upon thegoods for spreading the goods, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a cloth-carrying plate, of a presser-foot madein sections, each of which has a hinged connection with thecloth-carrying plate so that they may spread the goods apart,independent supports for said sections pivoted at a point intermediatetheir length to permit of different thicknesses of goods under each ofsaid foot-sections, a pressure device operating t0 exert an equalpressure on said supports for simultaneously causing said foot-sectionsto press upon and spread the goods operated upon, substantially asspecified.`

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. HOGAN. Witnesses:

JOHN J. SHAW, N. C. TEMPLETON.

